CRUISERS DAILY SCHEDULE

The following pages contain your day-by-day schedule of events, including things to do and see that have not been organised; recommended shops and restaurants; and any dress codes that may apply.

Please note that all dinner events are planned to sit down at 19.30 hours unless otherwise stated, and the general dress code for dinner is casual. Receptions, unless otherwise advised, will start at 18.00 hours, giving plenty of time for socialising.

Feel free to make your own notes as you cruise, and pass them on to the organisers - they'll be used to update the sheets for future cruises.

Anyone wishing to invite friends or family to rendezvous with the cruise, or join us for dinner, is most welcome to do so; but we ask that you advise the organisers as soon as your plans are set, so that we can make room for them. There is also the opportunity for non-boating members to join us at various restaurants, and the flyers have been issued throughout the club.

If you would like to host a reception before dinner on any of the days, let Graham or Natalie know, and you will be added to the list.

Whilst we have made every effort to provide you with the most up to date information, we have had to include several old menus. Bear in mind that the prices and dishes may have changed.

If you have any problems, questions or suggestions, please contact the organisers on:

07956-257008 or 07940-059184

The organisers e-mail address is upriver@btopenworld.com and the upriver website is at http://upriver.users.btopenworld.com/tmyc/upriver.htm or visit Graham and Natalie on "Mariner". To send things on, they should be posted to:

PO Box 512 Weybridge Surrey KT13 8JQ

DAY 1 Saturday, 9th August. A long 9 locks between TMYC and Windsor Marinas Ltd. A big first day, but with plenty of watering holes along the way for the thirsty or hungry it quickly gets us up to our first evening. Being moored next to Molesey lock, and given that it is a Saturday; we are hoping to be first through when the lock opens. As the Commodore will not be with us, the cruise will be lead by the Rear Commodore, Maureen Burton, and her consort, Tony, on Barquesto. Barquesto is one of the boats going ahead on Friday, and will meet us at Windsor, so feel free to make your own way up when you're ready.

Dinner tonight is a very informal affair - a take away fish and chip supper at Windsor Yacht Club, with the use of Windsor YC's bar. If you're tired and aching after such a hard day we recommend you check out the shower block at the marina. Hot water, fresh food and a good drink is a tonic that makes you feel your holiday has really started.

We will be enjoying the hospitality of Windsor Yacht Club's bar. Being a club where we enjoy a good relationship, and it being Saturday night, do make the most of the opportunity to socialise with the members. This years Commodore is Mel Evans.

This is also a good opportunity to get to know your fellow boaters in a social environment, and to get help for any problems you may have detected on this first leg, so they don't spoil the rest of your cruise. If you need boating supplies there is an excellent chandlery at Windsor Marina, as well as engineering services, fuel and water.

David & Diana Jones are helping us to organise a take away fish supper, so if you would please let Natalie have your order before 17.30 hours, we will call the order in for everyone. When you arrive, please pay your mooring fee of £7.50 per boat in the marina shop. The cost of your take away will be collected from you before we send out for the meal. We have had to estimate the costs for this year, and have had to make an across the board estimated increase. You will very probably get a refund, but this is the only way we can ensure that there is sufficient money to pay for the food when we get to the shop. Do bear with us normal service will be resumed.

At Runnymede remember that the right to navigation of the Thames was granted in clause 23 of the Magna Carta. The estate of Windsor Castle (the largest inhabited castle in the world) covers 13 acres, and Windsor Great Park a further 4,800 acres. So give Liz a wave if you see her doing the gardening! The monarchs at Windsor have had a habit of involving themselves with nearby establishments; indeed Henry VI founded Eton College in 1440.

DAY 2 Sunday, 10th August. A much easier single lock takes us between Windsor and Maidenhead. A new stop, but hopefully one we shall enjoy. We will be mooring along the wall just after Brunel's bridge and enjoying a roast Sunday lunch at the Thames Hotel. The tenants here are enjoying a long battle with the EA, and often write on the walls that there is no mooring, or that there are underwater obstructions or dangers. The Lock Keeper assures us that this is not the case. However, we recommend that you check the water as you come in to ensure that there are no hidden shopping trolleys or worse.

The mooring along this wall, as far back as Brunel's bridge, has been confirmed as a free public mooring. Given the accessibility of the mooring (it is next to a road), we recommend that you drop an anchor here, as well as making sure the ends of your ropes are returned to the boat and tied off onboard. Nothing tempts fate like a rope end sitting on a towpath.

Lunch is a 3 course Sunday carvery at a cost of £12.95, and it includes a vegetarian alternative. The Thames Hotel is only a short stroll from the moorings, being on the opposite side of the road running alongside the river at this point. It is marked on most river maps, and as such should be easy enough to find. This venue was recommended to us by a club member who informs us that they offer good value for money, as well as good food.

We do one more lock after lunch as we make our way up to Cliveden reach, just above Boulter's Lock, to our usual glade (map attached - please be patient, it is a large document to download). As well as the Vice Commodore's reception this evening, you are asked to bring a lantern for the bring-a-plate supper. There is a charge levied by the National Trust for tonights moorings, of £6 per boat.

Not far from where we dine, on the A4 is the Courage Shire Horse Centre, which was established to create interest in the breed and to ensure their survival. There is also a splendid display of show drays, brasses and a static exhibition of coopering, as well as the horses themselves.

On the riverbank at Bray you can see what remains of the original buildings of Bray Film Studios. The studios, once the home of Hammer Horror Films, still exist, although the main studios cannot be seen from the river, and they now work as much on projects for television as they do for film.

DAY 3 Monday, 11th August. Just 1 lock takes us to the BBQ cookout on Cookham Island. The cost of this is £14.50 per person, half price under 6's, and includes all charges necessary for use of the island, including your moorings, the barbecue and plenty of rum punches. We have attached a copy of the conditions for use, which we are sure none of us will have a problem with.

It looks as though we have enough interest to warrant roasting an entire lamb again, and I'm sure your taste buds are watering already! We apologise for the price rise - but this year we have to include the cost of spit hire.

For those of you that have not been to the island, we go through the lock, under the bridge and along the cut. As the weir stream opens up on the port side, turn into it and turn to port again to tuck in behind the island. Do not pursue the course straight ahead, alongside the houses; there is very little water and a serious risk of grounding. If you have a depth gauge, this is a really good place to turn it on. Keep an eye out for your aerials as you approach the bridge, too. We will be mooring abreast at the bankside, so bring shorelines, a boarding plank and mooring spikes. Secateurs for the nettles are also a good idea! We have moored large boats here previously, so there is plenty of depth. Would the shallow boats please take the inside moorings and allow deeper boats to hang over more water. If you are concerned about your draught please contact Adam, the lock keeper, on 01628-520752.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST ADVISE US IN ADVANCE IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS. We are happy to make arrangements for you, but can only do so if you inform us of your needs.

Tonight is a tropical evening, so be sure to bring your teddy bear suitably dressed - there's a prize for the cutest (voted by general consent). Grass skirts are acceptable dress code for the evening - but not compulsory. Would gentlemen please remember that if wearing a grass skirt in long nettles, shorts underneath are advisable. For the less adventurous, it is come-as-you-are.

The Swan Upping, which starts from Cookham, will be over by the time we get here, but the boatyard by the bridge belongs to the Queen's Swan Master.

DAY 4 Tuesday, 12th August. 1 lock between Cookham Island and historic Marlow means there's no rush to get there early. We are mooring on the public moorings opposite the Compleat Angler, but on the up riverside of the bridge.

Dinner is at the George & Dragon, a short stroll from our moorings, and a menu is attached. This pub is an Out and Out restaurant, similar to Harts Boatyard in Thames Ditton. Those of us on last years cruise can attest to the good food and hospitality.

Being so close to the Compleat Angler provides the opportunity to take lunch there, and the town of Marlow offers plenty of shopping and sight seeing opportunities, including a Waitrose in the town centre.

For the literati amongst us you can research the wanderings of Jerome K Jerome through this town, and his brief history of the spot as related in Three Men In A Boat. Other authors associated with Marlow include Mary Shelley, who finished her horror novel, Frankenstein, here in 1817 and the much forgotten Thomas Love Peacock (Nightmare Abbey 1818), who gave us the format for the modern country house drama where farcical absurdities can happen.

DAY 5 Wednesday, 13th August. 1 easy lock gets us up to Harleyford, and our friends at Harleyford YC. We will be mooring on the lawns, using spaces vacated by HYC, and joining them for the evening's entertainment, which will include a dinner at their local Golf Club.

A member of HYC will be acting as mooring master here, assisted by the first TMYC boat to arrive. If you are unsure of any instructions on approach, or are not sure that a call is addressed to you, please radio for a repeat of the message and clarification.

Unfortunately tonight is smart casual, so a no jeans, no trainers, no children night; but in return we are being offered a delightful meal at £15 a head, which includes a choice of prawn cocktail or soup starter, 2-meat carvery, vegetarian alternative and either summer pudding or cheese. This evening has been arranged for us by Jean and John Gudgin of Harleyford YC.

The history buffs amongst us might like to know that the fragmented remains of a priory can be found in the nearby ancient village of Hurley.

DAY 6 Thursday, 14th August. 5 locks see us at Sonning and our old friends, the Upper Thames YC. There are lots of moorings here, both in the club waters and above the lock. The moorings above the lock are free, as are the club moorings, but without electricity. If you need electricity and think you can get into the newly dredged and renovated moorings, please let the organisers know in advance. You should make sure you've got a good supply of £1 coins as the electricity is on a coin meter at each berth.

Dinner is at The Bull Inn, featured in "Three Men In A Boat". The Inn is a short stroll up the hill, through the picturesque churchyard, and well worth the trip. Be adventurous with their menu and you won't be disappointed. Last year offered such delights as Duck Christina, stuffed game, and stew with dumplings - all delicious! Unfortunately, we cannot book tables in advance, so you have an opportunity to dine at the time that suits you. Don't leave it too late though; it's usually packed by 20.30. Since they are also a pub, there is the opportunity to wander up early for a drink, grab a table and peruse the menu. The Inn has a few delightful rooms, and they can be booked on 0118-9693901.

If anyone has an overwhelming need for culture at this point in the cruise, the Mill Theatre in Sonning is next door to the UTMYC moorings, and you can contact them direct to see what's on and book your tickets. They also have a restaurant for theatregoers.

The 11 arched brick bridge at Sonning (we cross over it to get to The Bull Inn) is one of the oldest on the Upper Thames, and is so narrow traffic has to cross in single file. The nearby village of Barcham is the oldest locally, having been mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It once formed the boundary of Henry VIII's hunting forest.

DAY 7 Friday, 15th August. 3 locks today, leading us up to Goring and another new restaurant. Dinner tonight is at the Chef King Chinese Restaurant - menu attached. Mooring is on the public moorings just before the lock, on the starboard bank.

Since we get here nice and early, it's well worth stretching your legs into the local high street. Near the top of the village is a wonderful, traditional grocers shop that will cut their delicious, home cured bacon to any thickness you wish. A heart-warming experience for all who remember a time before supermarkets! Amongst other shops there is an amply stocked off licence, and a café on the edge of the bridge that do a lovely breakfast. A tiny mall at the hills' peak includes a fish shop, butchers and grocers, as well as an opportunity to buy postcards and fresh bread.

For those needing to do a larger shop, keep an eye out after you pass through Sonning lock, Reading Tesco is on your left. They usually have a row of black bags hanging on their railings, and there is a good mooring area. Those of you who didn't get into Henley can top up on supplies here.

The gin lovers on the cruise might like to learn that the village of Streatley is part of the Goring Gap, a cutting created in the chalk by the Thames, separating the Chilterns and the Berkshire Downs. The ancient Ridgeway Path crosses the river at Streatley and leads onto the juniper-dotted slopes of Streatley Hill. Gin, originally distilled in Holland, was originally called Genever - the Dutch word for Juniper, from which it is made.

DAY 8 Saturday, 16th August. Just 3 locks take us from Goring to Shillingford, which is just as well as tonight is the Commodore's Champagne reception and dinner dance at the Shillingford Bridge Hotel. It should be noted that there is a charge for mooring at the Hotel if you are not dining tonight, and all boats must report to reception upon arrival. For a small fee the hotel offers us the use of their showers in the squash courts. Please see their receptionist for a key.

The nearest chandlers is Sheridan UK at Moulsford, but up the hill from the hotel there is a caravan shop, offering all manner of useful bits for boats - from 12v microwaves and televisions to cool boxes and table cloth grips; cutlery and melamine dinner ware to light fittings and chemical toilets. If you arrive early you can take the opportunity to do those niggling maintenance jobs that will make your life so much happier on the next leg of the cruise. The gentlemen will no doubt find getting the toolbox out a good excuse to avoid the shopping trip!

A bus service is available (the X39), and reasonably reliable. A timetable can be obtained from the hotel reception, and the nearest major shopping town is Wallingford. Anyone wishing to book a room at the hotel should contact them directly on 01865-858567. If you are booking a room, do mention the TMYC booking, and see if there are any discounts available. You will still need to let Natalie know if you are joining us for dinner tomorrow, even if you tell the hotel, as Natalie has the table plans and numbers for the chef.

The cost for tonight is £40, and a menu and is included. This year you are being given the chance to order from the Table d'hôte menu. A half bottle of wine per person will be included with the meal, and there is a Champagne reception on the lawns at 18.00.

One slight change - this year we have a live band instead of the usual disco! So don't forget your dancing shoes. Dress code tonight is blazer and tie for the gentlemen and smart or cocktail dress for the ladies. It is traditional to take a photograph of the cruisers at this venue, prior to dinner, and we would ask that you make yourselves available for a group photograph during the reception.

DAY 9 Sunday, 17th August. Only one lock today between Shillingford and Clifton Hampden. The less adventurous of you are welcome to stop at the Hotel, and should make your own arrangements with them. For those that are happy to make the run, there is an excellent dinner waiting for us at The Barley Mow, as well as the Montmorency Quiz, which could win you a very English mini-hamper.

At Clifton Hampden we will be mooring on the starboard bank, just after the bridge. The bankside moorings are only a few pounds per boat, and all proceeds go to the local school. You can pay your moorings at the post office, which is on the same side of the river as the moorings, but below the bridge, along with a small shop and post office. Last year we discovered that on bad weather days someone comes along to collect the fees - but don't rely on it!

Tonight we will be eating at the Barley Mow. This is the inn where Jerome K Jerome wrote part of Three Men In A Boat. Regrettably they can only welcome Montmorency's at the garden tables. Meals average £3.50 for a starter, £8 for a main dish, £9 to £16 for chef's specials, £3.50 for a dessert. In order to get to the Barley Mow, we need to cross the bridge and walk along a lane with no streetlights or pavement, so please bring your torches and walking shoes.

Clifton Hampden is a beautiful little village, and if you are taking the time to explore it, track down the village church. It is perched on a cliff overlooking the river and approached up several flights of steps. Built into the north wall of this newer church (it was practically rebuilt in the 1800's to the designs of Victorian architect G G Scott) is a 12th century relief of a boar hunt, which is believed to have come from the original building. Nearby Dorchester, which is often described as a very good-looking town, and is, indeed, very pretty, is believed to be an early shrine of Christianity in Britain.

DAY 10 Monday, 18th August. Two locks today, between Clifton Hampden and Wallingford, or one for those rejoining at Shillingford. At mid-morning we will stop at Day's Lock to visit the footbridge where the World Poohsticks Championship is held. In honour of A.A.Milne we shall be competing for the TMYC Poohsticks Challenge Cup (sticks provided!). Worth it if only for the fun, although there is a club cup presented to the winner of this event!

Before you get to the lock there is a long stretch of bank and towpath. This is a free, public mooring, and it is where you should moor, unless advised otherwise. Sometimes we get lucky and there are gaps on the lock island. Walk along the towpath, past the lock, and over two footbridges. The second, flat bridge is where the competition will be held.

Our second, and final, stop of the day is the public moorings at Wallingford Bridge, giving us ample opportunity to venture into the town itself. There you will find lots of shops including chemists, newsagents, Waitrose, banks, and most of the shops you would expect to find in a small town.

We are dining at The Royal, which has been newly refurbished and offers an exciting array of food. This eatery is so good other restaurants recommend it, so dinner tonight bodes well. A sample menu is attached.

Before you leave your boat for the evening you are strongly advised to drop an anchor and check your shorelines. A few years ago a club boat (amongst others) was cast adrift at this location. Don't let this put you off - after all, it can happen anywhere, and it is less likely to happen on a weekday. Taking suitable precautions can easily prevent someone's stupidity turning into your insurance claim.

We're not the only people to pass through Wallingford; William the Conqueror crossed the Thames here in 1066. Make sure you've finished your Up River Quiz, as it will be collected tonight - the results will be announced at Pangbourne.

DAY 11 Tuesday, 19th August. There are no locks between Wallingford and Moulsford. Tonight is always a special one for the organisers, as it is their favourite restaurant on the Thames - the celebrated Beetle and Wedge. A sample menu and reduced wine list (it should be over 10 pages long!) are attached.

All boats are asked to moor opposite the restaurant. There is a long expanse of mooring, opposite the Beetle and Wedge, courtesy of friends of the club. The depth is between 5' and 6', but beware of sunken debris from recent renovations. A boathouse marks the site with a large white house set behind it, and there is often a gazebo on the lawn. It goes without saying that you will need a good supply of shorelines and mooring spikes.

A boat will be asked to act as the "ferry" for the evening. More appropriate than you might think, since this was the site of a boat ferry for a couple of centuries before the riverbanks passed into private hands. The job of ferryman will consist of collecting the organisers and social members from the Moulsford side of the river, and taking them across to prepare the fizz reception. After the reception, the ferry will be required to take the diners across to the restaurant, and finally, after the meal, to return the South Stoke moorers to the opposite bank. If you would like to volunteer for this job, please contact Natalie ASAP, otherwise a skipper with a suitable boat will be asked to perform this task.

As well as being a restaurant with a worldwide reputation, the Beetle is also an hotel, so if anyone wishes to book in, you can call them on 01491-651381. They only have 10 rooms, so it pays to book early. Don't be surprised if the hotel cat, or even Merlin, their very scruffy spaniel, comes to greet you - one year the cat spent the day sleeping on Mariner! Whilst we have attached a sample menu, we will be ordering from an a la carte menu, which will not be available until the night of the event.

Graham and Natalie's Fizz and canapé reception is on the opposite bank at 18.00. You are asked to gather at the moorings promptly if you need to cross the river. Your meal has been obtained at the very reasonable cost of £40 per head. Dress code is blazer and tie for gentlemen, and smart or cocktail dress for the ladies.

The owners of the mooring at Ashmount House state that you moor here at your own risk. They decline all responsibility should anyone injure her or himself whilst using their property, no matter how such injury came about. Their riverbank contains many hazards for the unwary and you should be aware of this. Acceptance of these terms is implicit in mooring at Ashmount House.

DAY 12 Wednesday, 20th August. Two locks today between Moulsford and Pangbourne. . Tonight's dinner theme will be Toad's Supper, in honour of Kenneth Graham who lived in Pangbourne and retired to Church Cottage. Dinner is at The Swan, on the terrace overlooking the river (weather permitting!), with the results of the Up River Quiz after dinner. A sample menu is included for your perusal.

There is room for lots of boats to moor at the restaurant itself, and the meadow is a delightful place to hold a reception. Boats will be nominated to moor at the restaurant, and we would ask that the rest of you moor on the meadow, with the possibility of a single boat (which will be mooring at the restaurant) running a ferry service in time for dinner - this will only be possible if a skipper volunteers his services. There is a train station nearby and ample parking for those that wish to meet up with family. Do please invite them to dine with us, but keep your organisers abreast of numbers, so that no one is left without a seat. This restaurant is a gem, with delicious food, wonderful service and a truly hospitable atmosphere. Every time we have used them they have gone out of their way to ensure that we have a good time.

DAY 13 Thursday, 21st August. Just 1 lock today, from the restaurant terrace down to Pangbourne Meadow. Today is an opportunity to relax before the rigours of competition. Weather permitting we will be having a bring a plate supper in the evening, with the possibility of games of boule or softball being played in the Meadow during the day. Everyone is asked to bring a couple of lanterns or similar, and their own chairs and tables. We know we're asking you all to do some work towards this, but nothing is quite as nice as outdoor dining in the summer.

If you feel the need to roam, nearby points of interest include the site of the old Reading Goal, where Oscar Wilde spent two years doing hard labour. Or perhaps you'd prefer Basildon, where Jethro Tull, the inventor and agricultural engineer is buried in the churchyard.

Tomorrow sees the start of the IWA National Waterways Festival & Inland Boat Show 2003. Specialising in narrow boats and canal boats, you need to be aware that over 600 of them will be gathering at Beale Park from the 22nd until the 25th. Once we get past Beale Park the river should be clear of canal traffic, but don't forget that there are also a lot of other yacht clubs heading for the ATYC at Henley for the rally and competition, so be prepared to get up early to get the moorings and the locks in time for the next few events.

DAY 14 Friday, 22nd August. 6 locks between Pangbourne and Fawley Meadows, Henley should see us moored in time for our last cruise dinner. The moorings at Fawley Meadows are bankside, but the bank is mowed and easily accessible. Hopefully tonight the Commodore will be joining us as we dine at The Angel on The Bridge. A menu is attached for your perusal.

There is a chance here to stock up at Waitrose, or enjoy the shops in town. Entertainment nearby includes Asquith's tearooms and teddy bear shop in the centre of town (where you can get a delicious cream tea!), and the River and Rowing Museum, which is in the Riverside Café, Mill Meadows, Henley.

The museum is open daily from 10.00 to 17.30; admission is £4.95 adults, £3.75 children, senior citizens, disabled and unemployed, or get a family ticket for £13.95 to cover four. This year's exhibition is called Thames at War: Secrets, Spies and Spitfires. From the legendary Dunkirk Little Ships to soaring Spitfires, secret factories to vital wartime boat building, this exhibition highlights the significant role of the River Thames and its communities during the Second World War. Photos, artefacts and audio and video recordings tell the stories of the riverside communities mobilised to assist in the defence of the nation and in war production. What was happening in the big country houses, what was the Upper Thames Patrol and what were the photo reconnaissance units doing? Discover how Britain's competitive young rowers made efforts to boost morale with regattas and boat races taking place on the Thames and first hand accounts from some of those who took part.

DAY 15 Saturday, 23rd August. Today is just a gentle drift downstream to the ATYC competition. The Hon. Sec. is organising the TMYC entry for this year. If you wish to moor at the ATYC, compete or just come along for support, please contact Maureen direct at the office.

At the end of the ATYC rally (Sunday night) there are no club plans for cruising home, so as of today you can make your own way, in your own time. Gentlemen - don't forget that you will need your whites for the final dinner on Sunday!

We hope that you have enjoyed your cruise, and that we haven't worked you too hard. If there is anything you have discovered, particularly enjoyed, or not enjoyed at all, please let your organisers know. It will help the club to plan a better cruise year by year. If you have suggestions for things that we could do or try, let them know those, too.

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